12/24v 750 50lb motor guide trolling motor wiring issue

[claytonz]

Ok I've seen a few topics discussing this but no one seems to have a setup like mine. I have 2 red wires and 2 black wires running from the batteries in the back to the front of the boat. Those 4 wires are labeled battery 1 and battery 2 and are hooked up to a rectangular board in front which connect when the 4 prong trolling motor plug is plugged in and from the trolling motor wire which goes to the foot pedal there is a toggle switch on the side of the foot pedal with 3 settings 12v, Off, and 24v. Now that I've described my setup .....here's the problem. When I set that toggle switch on the side of the foot pedal to 12v....it runs, but when I set it to 24v it no longer runs. Now the cables run from the front to the back of the boat and are labeled. Battery 1 has battery 1 red cable to positive and battery 1 black cable to negative....and battery 2 red cable is on battery 2 positive and battery 2 black cable is on negative of battery 2. A lot of people on here seem to have a 3 prong connection so I'm assuming my wiring is likely different. Now.....I really don't even care for the being able to select between 12v and 24v mode. So I'm wondering how to wire mine for 24v mode while leaving the selector on the foot pedal in 12v mode since I'm getting nothing when I set it to 24v mode. Oh and the battery 2 cables are the ones that seem to be live still and work in 12v mode. When I try connecting the battery 1 cables and setting it to 12v mode or 24v mode....I get nothing. Assuming a ground when bad up front in the plug or something is wrong with the selector itself.

 

[Silvertip]

If I understand you correctly, you are trying to use just two batteries to serve a combination 12 volt and 24 volt function. Be aware that unless you do this correctly you are in for a whole bunch of potential issues. The main issue would be to inadvertently end up with 24 volts connected to the engine and boat electrical system which obviously pops lights, instruments, and damages charging systems. Without a detailed diagram of what you are attempting to do with the dual battery switch and the isolator I won't even attempt to offer a solution. One other issue is that without special switching/equipment, you cannot charge a 24 volt system from from a 12 volt source.

 

[claytonz]

Well I have 4 batteries in back....one for accessories, one just for starting the motor, and the other 2 which are wired for only the trolling motor. I bought the boat last year and it was all set up like this so.....kinda having to learn as I go and unscrew the previous owners screw ups. If the system would just work as it did before the recent problem I'd be all for that. But like I say....its as though when you put the selector on the pedal in 24v mode.....you get nothing.

 

[Silvertip]

OK -- I had you confused with another persons issue. Your boat was originally set up with two separate 12 volt circuits (one from each battery) running forward to the panel. That system requires a four terminal receptacle and plug to accommodate a 12 AND 24 volt (combination) motor like yours. If you remove the receptacle at the bow you will see markings on the back for connection of the four wires. Markings will be #1+ #1-, #2+ and #2- or similar markings. You then only need to match the wires from the motor to those on the receptacle. Motor wires are likely red-black (battery #1) and orange-black (battery #2). If there is a switch or some other device in the lines going up front from the batteries, remove it/them as they are not needed. The 12/24 switching is controlled by the switch on the foot pedal.

 

[claytonz]

Yeah I actually did that and it's now not working in 12 Or 24 volt mode. I've got a buddy that works at bass pro that says the selector on the foot pedal may have gone bad or something. the only thing in the 4 lines from front to back are a couple of 40amp breakers which I checked and they're fine. He had me disconnect the white wire in the 4 prong plug and just leave the red and black connected in the plug...while on the back of that panel up front is that rectangular piece with the 4 wires connected...which I disconnected the battery 2 wires and am running only battery one wires to the back..battery 1 positive cable to battery one positive and battery 1 negative to battery 2 negative and a jumper from battery 1 negative to battery to positive. And still nothing whether I set the selector switch to 12v or 24v. The only other thing I can think is perhaps the 4 prong connector is bad and I could directly connect the battery one wires from the back rectangular panel to the red and black trolling motor wires to see if it works so I know if I just need a new plug. Thoughts?

 

[Silvertip]

You cannot use a jumper at the batteries to series connect them in a four wire system. Remove that jumper and wire as I indicated earlier. You should measure 12 volts at the two terminals that battery #1 is wired to, and 12 volts at the two terminals battery #2 is wired to. It is the 12/24 switch on the foot pedal that select series (24 volt) or parallel (12 volt operation). Get the wiring right first. Then check the switch on the foot pedal. If it works on 12 volt but not 24, the switch may be bad or wiring to it is broken or disconnected somewhere in the motor harness. The reason for this is that the motor is only running on one battery in 12 volt mode.